Check.



J. C. BELL.

CHECK. APPLIQATION FILED 23.21, 1906.

PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908.,

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INVENTOR JOHN C. BELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

-, CHECK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Application filed April 21, 1906. serial No. 313,053.

full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improved check, adapted particularly for usein transmitting small amounts of money through the mails,-one,object ofthe invention being to provide simple means whereby the use of postagestamps or coins in making small remittances can be avoided.

A further object is to provide4 a device which can be issued by the PostOflice Department as a postal check or order for small amounts of money,in lieu of money orders now commonly in use, and which can be sold bythe Department to business men or others for use in transmitting smallremittances, and which can be redeemable by the Department for` theirface value.

A. further object is to provide a postal or remittance check to beissued and redeemed by the Post Office Department, and which may be usedin whole or in part in transmittin small remittances from place toplace, an which shall be so constructed and arranged that an unused orfractional portion of a check can be utilized.

A further object is to construct and arrange the check insuch mannerthat any fractional part of it can be used in making one remittance andthe remaining part utilized in making another remittance to some otherperson or at some future time.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in certain novelfeatures and arrangements of a check as hereinafter set forth andpointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of a check embodying myinvention and showing portions of both sides of the check. Fig. 2 is aface view of one side ofv i the check.

1 represents the check, each face of which is divided into three parts2, 3, 4,-the cena number to be ap lied by the postmaster, and the nameof t e device, via-Postal check,--is designated in the space 2. Belowthe name or title of the device, in the space 2, appears the contractportion of the c eck, which may be stated in any suitable language. Inthe space 4 at the lower end of check, certain instructions may beprinted. The bottom space 4 on the other faceof the check contains thesame information eXce t as to the amounts for which this face or si e ofthe check may be issued. The arrangement of the matter in the s aces 2and 4 may be varied both in style an wording, so long as the substanceof the contract and instructions is preserved.

In the drawing, l haveillustrated a postal check having a total value of50 cents, al-

though it will be understood that the check may be made to represent anydesired value and fractional parts thereof.

The intermediate space 3 on the side of check represented in Fig. 2, isdivided by horizontal perforated severing lines 5, into twenty-fivenarrow spaces extending transversely of the check. These spaces containfigures from l to 25 arranged consecutivelyV near bothedges of thecheck. The value of each of these spaces is also indicatedy inwords,-for instances, in the first space, the Words lone cent appears.On the other side of the check, represented in Fig. 1, all the matterthereon, is arranged, the reverse to the matter on the side of theicheck shown in Fig. 2.

On the side of the check shown in Fig. 1, the intermediate portion 3, isdivided into twenty-six transverse spaces and contain figures arrangedconsecutively from 25 to 50 near both margins of the check, and wordsprinted in the intermediate portions of said transverse spaces, indicatethe value in cents of the figures in said spaces. In arranging thetransverse spaces on the side shown in Fig. l the iirst space having adesignated value of 25 cents will be opposite a blank space on the otherside of the check below the space having a designated value of 25 cents,and the remaining spaces on the side shown in Fig. 1 will havedesignated values consecutively to 50 cents,-the latter being directlyopposite the space on the other side of the check having a designatedvalue of one cent.

Assuming that the user has purchased one or more checks from the PostOffice Department, and he desires to transmit 35 cents to acorrespondent,-he will take a check with the side shown in Fig. 1 facinghim, and sever the same on the perforated severin line immediately underthe figures an words thirty-ive cents and send the severed f checkcontaining the contract portion to his correspondent, who will have itcashed at any post office. The remaining portion of the check will havea value represented by the highest amount remaining on the otherside,-viz,-on the side shown in Fig. 2, the remaining a-mounts on theside which has been used and which contains a contract portion, beingcanceled. Thus in the eX- ample given, the remaining portion of thecheck will have a value of l5 cents, this being the difference betweenthe full value of the check (50 cents) ,and the amount (.35 cents) whichhas been used. This remaining 1.5 cent check containing a contractportion .can be used at any future time.

It is apparent that a postal check can be issued by a postmaster for anyamount within the total value of the check, by severing the same in themanner before explained,- the remaining portion of the .check beingstill good for the amounts which it represents Having fully described myinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patentis,-

A check having on each face a contract portion and a series of valuedesignations,

the value designations on one face being different from and registeringwith those on the other face', except that the series .of valuedesignations upon one face .of .the check begins with the same numberwith which Ithe series of value designations on the obverse face ofthecheck ends, .and ends in a position out of register with the last valuedesignation on said obverse face, the .arrangement of said contractportion .and value .designations on one side of the check being reverseto the corres onding arrangement .on the .other side.

testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence yoftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. BELL.

Witnesses:

S. FERGUSON, W. 'CLARENCE DUVALL.

